Project Homeless Connect: San Francisco

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Monday, August 13, 2012

On July 27th, after our Bayview Family Connect, I went home with sticky fingers from holding a mother's popsicle as she put food and other essential items she received into her and her children's backpacks. Nothing feels better than connecting a person's need to necessary resources!

We were honored to collaborate with our Bayview partners for the very first Bayview Family Connect! The success was visible in the smiles of the children and words of appreciation both from providers and participants. It was a day that we all will never forget.

Thank you to all the volunteers who made this event such a success! From set-up and breakdown to food distribution, you all made the day run smoothly.

As I sat with the Project Homeless Connect team to debrief after the event, I realized that the day had a unique and special meaning for all of us. We were touched by the generous, open hearts of our volunteers as well as the appreciation and support shown from participants. It was nothing short of amazing.

One member of our PHC team you may know, but works behind the scene, is our Events Manager, Kate Grzeca. She helps ensure every aspect of our event serves our participants from organizing the chairs and tables to strategizing services. Below are a few words about what Family Connect meant to her and what it takes to plan an event.

Thank you again. Together, we made a difference.

Sincerely,

Kara Zordel

Executive Director
Project Homeless Connect
Hello, I'm Kate Grzeca, the Events Manager for Project Homeless Connect. Most people just see me running around the day of the event or know to contact me for their table and chair needs. I want to give you a glimpse at what goes into an event, especially a new event like Bayview Family Connect.

Our goal for each event is to make sure that we have relevant services for our participants that are organized logically, safely, and efficiently. It took more than seven months to plan and execute the Family Connect event. During those months we were:

Collaborating and meeting with local organizations to address the needs of the community

Identifying accessible spaces to hold the event and working with building personnel on logistics

Obtaining permits and street closures

Inviting non-profits who would provide relevant services

Meeting with city and non-profit agencies to strategize service area management, services, etc.

But all of this can't happen without you. Once the event opens it is up to you, our volunteers and providers to make the day great. Thank you for all your work on July 27th. We were impressed by your dedication and spirit. You worked long and hard by our side, helping out in new ways and even staying after to help clean up.

For me, each event is a reward for the months of work it takes to plan. This event was no exception because together we helped families get connected to the long term support they need and enabled a new generation to end the cycle of poverty and homelessness, and that is worth all our efforts. You will see in our outcomes that we were able to do so much!

We are beginning preparations for our next event. Please save the date and join us again for PHC 46 at the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium on October 24th! Volunteer registration opens on September 12th.

Sincerely,

Kate Grzeca

Events Manager
Project Homeless Connect

Total number of client visits: 738

Total number of volunteers: 383

70 Banking Services (Including new Wells Fargo bank accounts)

24/15 Benefits & Follow Up Appointments Cal Works, CalFresh

74 Blood Pressure Screenings

116 California State ID Vouchers

50/33 Dental Screenings/Procedures

147 Employment

92/51/400 Eye Exams, Prescriptions & Readers

31 Hair Cuts

30 Legal Support

42 Massages

47 Medical Visits

45 Prenatal Intake

19 Senior Services

4 Medi-Cal

6 Substance Abuse, Mental Health & Methadone Treatment

13 Fun and Informative Classes

139 Family Portraits

20 Signed up for School with SFUSD

111 Housing Information

300+ Bedtime Totes from Project Night Night

21,226 lbs Groceries from SF Food Bank

600+ Books

Special Announcement

Eighth Annual "Step up to the Plate" Night Raising Awareness for those living in Poverty and Hardship Thursday, 8/23 vs. ATL 7:15 PM.

Partial proceeds from ticket sales will benefit Project Homeless Connect. Your special event ticket package also includes a Jeremy Affeldt bobblehead, only available through this offer! Jeremy is a longtime advocate for human rights and ending poverty.

Wednesday, July 18, 2012

Family Connect is just a little more than a week away and we need your volunteer skills to make it happen! Please take a look at the volunteer opportunities listed below and make one your own today!

Participant Check-In: Volunteers welcome participants, explain available services and check-off which services the participant is interested in. Volunteers are required to be seated for the duration of this five-hour shift. Training materials will be emailed prior to the event as well as an onsite training the day of the event. This volunteer opportunity is great for those who might prefer to be seated rather than standing. 12:30PM - 5:30PM, 21 more volunteers needed!

Ushers: Volunteers will be stationed throughout the venue to assist participants with directions and other venue information. 12:30PM - 5:30PM, 14 more volunteers needed!

Break Down Team: This role is crucial to the success of our event! Duties include breaking down and stacking tables and chairs, collecting signs, stacking barricades, clean-up and sweeping, dismantling tents and other break down tasks as assigned. This volunteer opportunity is great for those that may not be able to volunteer during regular event hours but would still like to come by later in the day. 4:30PM - 7:30PM, 15 more volunteers needed!

Medical: The medical area at Project Homeless Connect is a basic urgent care center where brief medical care is provided but, more importantly, participants are connected to primary care providers in clinics throughout the city. Participants are triaged, have their vital signs taken and are then evaluated by doctors and nurse practitioners. Punctuality is essential for training purposes. On-site orientation provided from 12:00PM - 1:00PM. 12:00PM - 5:30PM.

Family Connect will take place in the Bayview/Hunters Point neighborhood. We are excited for our new location at the intersection of Third Street and Oakdale Avenue including the Bayview Opera House Ruth Williams Memorial Theater, the Joseph Lee Recreation Center and Mendell Square.

Due to the smaller size of this event, pre-registration is required. Click here to register today or contact Randall Stowe at
randall.stowe@sfdph.org or (415) 503-2124.
Friday, July 27th
Bayview Opera House Ruth Williams Memorial Theater
4705 Third St. (@Oakdale Ave.)
San Francisco, CA 94124

Volunteer shifts available between the hours of 8:00AM - 7:30PM
Participant service hours from 1:00PM - 5:00PM.

Special Announcement

Eighth Annual "Step up to the Plate" Night
Raising Awareness for those living in Poverty and Hardship
Thursday, 8/23 vs. ATL 7:15 PM.

Partial proceeds from ticket sales will benefit Project Homeless Connect. Your special event ticket package also includes a Jeremy Affeldt bobblehead, only available through this offer! Jeremy is a longtime advocate for human rights and ending poverty.

Wednesday, July 11, 2012

With our next Project Homeless Connect event, Family Connect, less than three weeks away, the time to act is now! Volunteers are still needed in the following service areas:

Set Up Team: The morning of the event volunteers are needed to assist with set up. Duties include: arranging tables and chairs, hanging signs, placing barricades and cones, and other set-up tasks as assigned. Must be able to lift and/or carry up to 35 lbs. 8:30AM - 1:00PM, 10 more volunteers needed!

Ushers: Volunteers will be stationed throughout the venue to assist participants with directions and other venue information. 12:30PM - 5:30PM, 16 more volunteers needed!

Break Down Team: This role is crucial to the success of our event! Duties include breaking down and stacking tables and chairs, collecting signs, stacking barricades, clean-up and sweeping, dismantling tents and other break down tasks as assigned. 4:30PM - 7:30PM, 15 more volunteers needed!

Medical: The medical area at Project Homeless Connect is a basic urgent care center where brief medical care is provided but, more importantly, participants are connected to primary care providers in clinics throughout the city. Participants are triaged, have their vital signs taken and are then evaluated by doctors and nurse practitioners. Punctuality is essential for training purposes. On-site orientation provided from 12:00PM - 1:00PM. 12:00PM - 5:30PM.

Physicians: 15 more volunteers needed!

RN/LV: 7 more volunteers needed!

MA/Nursing: 5 more volunteers needed!

Family Connect will take place in the Bayview/Hunters Point neighborhood. We are excited for our new location at the intersection of Third Street and Oakdale Avenue including the Bayview Opera House Ruth Williams Memorial Theater, the Joseph Lee Recreation Center and Mendell Square.

Services will include medical, dental, vision, employment, prenatal, women's health, school registration (through SFUSD) and more. Workshops and classes available for the whole family!

Due to the smaller size of this event, volunteer pre-registration is required.

Volunteer shifts available between the hours of 8:00AM - 7:30PM
Participant service hours from 1:00PM - 5:00PM Click here to register today or contact Randall Stowe at randall.stowe@sfdph.org or (415) 503-2124.

Monday, June 25, 2012

We would like to announce our next Project Homeless Connect event ... Family Connect! Join us on Friday, July 27th and be a part of this extraordinary day of service.

Family Connect will take place in the Bayview/Hunters Point neighborhood. We are excited for our new location at the intersection of Third Street and Oakdale Avenue including the Bayview Opera House, the Joe Lee Recreation Center and Mendell Square.

Services will include medical, dental, vision, employment, prenatal, women's health, school registration (through SFUSD) and more. Workshops and classes available for the whole family!

Due to the smaller size of this event, pre-registration is required.
Click here to register today or contact Randall Stowe at
randall.stowe@sfdph.org or (415) 503-2124.

Friday, July 27th
Bayview Opera House
4705 Third St. (@Oakdale Ave.)
San Francisco, CA 94124

Volunteer shifts available between the hours of 8:00AM-7:30PM
Participant service hours from 1:00PM-5:00PM

Thursday, June 21, 2012

In preparation for Family Connect, we have been partnering with our amazing Bayview providers and collaborators in innovative ways! It is our desire to connect all participants to accessible local resources that can help take them one step closer to their goals.

We’re partnering with the Bayview Hunters Point Mobilization for Adolescent Growth in Our Communities (Bmagic) to help provide backpacks and school supplies for the 2,200 homeless children in the San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD) and the low-income residents of the Bayview. Families who sign up at PHC45 will be able to pick up their backpacks at a special event at Bmagic in August. Families who were unable to get school immunizations or learn how to enroll their kids in school at PHC45, will also have second opportunity to do so at the follow-up event in August. BMAGIC can also provide school uniforms for families who many times have to choose between groceries or school items. We love our collaborators!

Some new partnerships will help PHC45 respond to the high childhood obesity rate in the Bayview. Long-time partners, Cal-Fresh and the Food Bank will be at our event to sign people up for food stamps and to provide free groceries. New partners, including the SEFA Food Guardians and Leah’s Pantry will teach participants how to find fresh local foods and cook healthy meals from the ingredients the food pantry is distributing at our event.

A first at Project Homeless Connect events, PHC45 will have fun and educational classes taught throughout the day that encourage healthier lives and diets. Primarily taught by Bayview residents and organizations, participants will not only learn, but be able to enjoy local arts and culture. One of our newest providers, the Whitney Young Child Development Center’s Dance Troop will perform and encourage participants to get involved with their program.

In order to fulfill the emergent needs of participants and encourage them to connect to the services that will help them make long-term changes, participants will receive incentives for participating in educational opportunities and signing up for support services. For example, bags with books, toys, blankets and diapers (donated by Project Nigh Night, Help a Mother Out and Earth Baby), will be given to families who complete the fifteen minute intake process with the Homeless Prenatal Program (HPP). Participants who may come because they need diapers the day of the event, will learn were they can get support to have diapers as long as their baby needs them. Participants who just wanted free toys for their kids, may learn that HPP also provides job training, parenting classes, case management, addiction recovery, domestic violence support, computer classes, housing and furniture.

PHC45 is a one day event, but our goal is to help participants get connected to resources that can change their life. On top of all the great partnerships listed above, we will also have more women’s medical services than we have ever been able to offer.

We encourage you to contact us and let us know if you would like to help in anyway to make PHC45 a success. Your support of our work makes it possible!

Thursday, June 14, 2012

The mission of Project Homeless Connect TM (PHC) is to provide a single location where non profit medical and social service providers collaborate to serve the homeless of San Francisco with comprehensive, holistic services.